How do you protect your filterwheel

[jarbi]

Hi,

I just received my Atik EFW2 USB filterwheel, now filled with the LRGB filterset. Then I started to scratch my head how to protect it from dust when not used, since Atik didn't provide any dustcaps. The filter wheel is open from both side... For the time beeing I have put the wheel in the plastic bag where it was packed in, but it is not a good solution. I think I should find a suitable plastic cap or something similar, but maybe some of you have better ideas .

cheers,

Janos

[steppenwolf]

I always leave the filter wheel attached to the camera and use a single dust cap at the 'scope end to keep it all air/dust tight. This has the additional advantage of speeding up the set-up process each session.

[Macavity]

Having, only recently, acquired such a thing, one can usually "find" a suitable (standard) stopper or e.g. T2 lens cap? <G> I worry more about "my precious" - Camera Chip etc. (I use a IR/UV filter) than stuff, reasonably outside focus...

[jarbi]

Thanks Steve and Chris, I could make up my mind now more or less.

I would like to avoid to leave the CCD attached, because of protection of "my precious" ( the Atik-11000 has a nice protective case against any bumping accident ). I have ordered the filterwheel with the 54mm adapter to directly connect with my Atik, so I could maybe order such a cap from them (?), this should be a cap with 54mm female thread. On the other side of the wheel I could use a "copy" of the dust cover of the CCD ( 54mm male thread ).

cheers,

Janos